Beyond Detection: Why faculty should focus on AI literacy, not AI policing

As generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools become increasingly accessible, higher education institutions must address the challenge of maintaining academic integrity while preparing students for an AI-integrated future. Institutions that rely solely on AI-detection software risk fostering adversarial learning environments due to false positives and a punitive culture. Instead, a comprehensive approach that integrates AI literacy with institutional policy can foster ethical engagement with AI. Drawing on recent literature and best practices, this article examines the limitations of detection tools. Within are proposed actionable strategies to prepare students to become responsible users of AI and enable institutions to strike a balance between innovation and academic integrity.